Apple One-Ups Microsoft With New iPad Pro, Pencil
- Paul Thurrott
- Jun 06, 2017
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62
Apple and Microsoft seem to be on the same trajectory when it comes to adding active pen support to their newest hybrid PCs. But Apple has eked out a win this time with the new iPad Pro.
As you may recall, the new Surface Pro (2017) is the first Microsoft device to feature hardware-accelerated Windows Ink capabilities, thanks to its new Pixelsense Accelerator chip. When used in tandem with the new Surface Pen (2017), it offers what Microsoft described as the best-possible performance.
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The new Surface Pen is the “fastest pen in the world,” Microsoft’s Stevie Bathiche told The Verge at the time. “It is twice as responsive as the Apple Pencil.”
According to that publication, the new Surface Pen provides 21 ms of latency. But, as Apple pointed out yesterday, the Apple Pencil, when used with the new iPad Pro, achieves just 20 ms of latency. It is, in other words, “faster” (or, more natural, I guess) than the new Surface Pen. Barely.
It is absolutely not coincidental that Apple was able to achieve this performance using specialized hardware in the tablet/PC rather than just with the Pencil itself. The best possible performance requires innovations in both. (And the Apple Pencil works with older iPad Pros, just as the new Surface Pen works with older Surface devices too.)
The issue here is that the Apple Pencil was already better than Microsoft’s previous-generation Surface Pen. So when Microsoft revved the Pen, and the Surface Pro, beating Apple was obviously the goal. Which they achieved, sort of. Since the new Surface Pen isn’t even available yet, it was technically never in first place. Apple will ship the new iPad Pro before Microsoft ships the new Surface Pro, and well before it ships the new Surface Pen.
Ah well.
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Conversation 62 comments
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skane2600
<p>Is a 1ms difference actually perceptible?</p>
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Delmont
<blockquote><a href="#123102"><em>In reply to Ste Vae:</em></a></blockquote><p>With your use of the terms "M$" and "CRapple" no one, no one will read or take your posts seriously. M$? Hello 2007</p>
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Locust Infested Orchard Inc.
<p><strong><strong style="color: blue;"><span style="color:red">Paul's conclusion</span>: </strong><span style="color:blue">Apple Pencil is 1ms faster than Microsoft Surface Pen.</span></strong></p><p><strong style="color: blue;"><span style="color:purple"><span class="ql-cursor"></span></span></strong><strong><span style="color:purple">I demand to see the photo finish line photo; it's way to close to call. <img draggable="false" class="emoji" alt="?" src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.2.1/svg/1f606.svg"><img draggable="false" class="emoji" alt="?" src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.2.1/svg/1f61c.svg"></span></strong></p>
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Locust Infested Orchard Inc.
<blockquote><a href="#123252"><em>In reply to Angusmatheson:</em></a></blockquote><p>I recommend you see a live demo of Microsoft Surface Pen working with Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, or CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2017 with its new AI-based LiveSketch mode.</p><p>You'll be taken aback by the immense wizardry that Microsoft has concocted with the Surface tablet/laptop and Surface Pen working in concert.</p><p>With a bit of imagination, it becomes child's play in becoming the next Rembrandt.</p><p>Hope to see your masterpiece auctioned for millions in decades to come, courtesy of Redmond's devices. <img draggable="false" class="emoji" alt="??" src="https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.2.1/svg/1f44d-1f3fd.svg"></p><p><em>Angusmatheson's Quote: "But, for me the iPad felt like you were drawing right on the screen…But it is funny that Apple never seems to tout that feature"</em></p><p>It's with good reason Apple don't, for they fear the wrath of Steve Jobs (RIP) from six-feet under. At Macworld 2007, whilst announcing the very first iPhone, Jobs remarked and I quote, <em>"Who wants a stylus? You have to get 'em, put 'em away, you lose 'em. Yuck! Nobody wants a stylus. So let's not use a stylus."</em></p><p>Also according to Walter Isaacson's biography of Jobs, Steve is said to have commented, <em>"God gave us 10 styluses. Let's not invent another"</em>.</p><p>So the Apple Pencil will always be an afterthought, whilst for Microsoft they are actively seeking to make its Pen the best.</p><p>See the master at work, and his now famous quote given above:</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4YY3MSaUqMg" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/embed/4YY3MSaUqMg</a></p>
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![https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.2.1/svg/1f61c.svg"></span></strong></p>](https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/2.2.1/svg/1f61c.svg"></span></strong></p>){kind=link}
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